Delaware lawmakers on Thursday introduced plans to cross main gun reform within the closing weeks of the legislative session, together with banning the sale of assault weapons, limiting high-capacity magazines and growing the buying age for many firearms.
It comes after quite a lot of mass shootings in America, most notably in Uvalde, Texas, wherein a gunman shot and killed 19 elementary college youngsters and two academics.
Thursday’s announcement confirmed motion amongst Delaware Democrats, who in recent times discovered themselves at a standoff on a number of gun reform points.
The bundle of payments, which has the help of Gov. John Carney, additionally contains:
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Strengthening background checks by reinstituting the Firearm Transaction Approval Program
Holding gun producers and sellers responsible for reckless or negligent actions that result in gun violence
Banning the usage of units that convert handguns into absolutely automated weapons
Later Thursday night, President Joe Biden referred to as on Congress to cross these comparable provisions on the nationwide stage, particularly banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“After Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Charleston, after Orlando, after Las Vegas, after Parkland, nothing has been performed,” Biden stated his speech.
“This time that may’t be true.”
The Delaware invoice to restrict high-capacity magazines exhibits a major shift amongst Home lawmakers, who had beforehand obtained criticism on this situation. Final 12 months, the Senate handed a invoice that may have outlined and banned “large-capacity magazines” with a capability to carry greater than 17 rounds of ammunition.
Home lawmakers added an modification that may enable for the possession of large-capacity magazines however embrace a stricter punishment if utilized in against the law. It additionally modified the definition of what the invoice outlined as a “large-capacity journal.”
Senate President Professional Tempore David Sokola advised Delaware On-line/The Information Journal earlier this week that the Senate will vote to strip the amendments added within the Home and ship the invoice again nearer to its authentic type.
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That is slated to occur when the Common Meeting returns from its recess on June 7.
It’s unclear what the standing is of Senate Invoice 3, a invoice that may require residents serious about shopping for a handgun to first purchase a allow and take security programs. This handed within the Senate final spring and has been sitting in a Home committee for greater than a 12 months.
A spokesman for Home management didn’t instantly reply to touch upon if that invoice can be voted on this month.
For years, Senate Democrats have tried, and failed, to ban the sale of assault weapons. Within the model of this Home invoice, it might be unlawful to make, promote, buy or possess assault-style weapons, together with AK-47s and AR-15s. These weapons particularly have been utilized in mass shootings.
The invoice would additionally “grandfather current weapons and shield their house owners from being misidentified as lawbreakers whereas inserting restrictions on the transportation and use of these weapons,” in accordance with Thursday’s announcement.
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It additionally grants sure exceptions for legislation enforcement and army members. An individual who owns an assault weapon earlier than the passage of this invoice may additionally legally switch it to an instantaneous member of the family.
The state’s Division of Security and Homeland Safety could be required, underneath this invoice, to develop a certificates exhibiting lawful possession of an assault weapon, for individuals who qualify.
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Delaware’s buying age for a firearm presently mirrors federal legislation, wherein a purchaser must be no less than 21 for all handgun purchases and 18 for lengthy weapons. The invoice to extend the buying age to 21 would apply to these trying to purchase semi-automatic firearms or ammunition for a firearm.
It could additionally enable for “restricted exceptions” for shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles.
Home lawmakers stated the payments to ban the sale of assault weapons and lift the buying age can be heard within the chamber’s Administration Committee subsequent Wednesday and can be voted on Thursday. The Senate has dedicated to passing these payments shortly.
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Lawmakers plan to cross the remainder of the payments by the tip of June.
Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Observe her on Twitter at @MereNewman.
Federal Authorities are investigating the crash of a banner plane that went down in southern Delaware on the 4th of July.
The plan reportedly crash-landed upside down in a wooded area near Rickards Road between Roxana and Millville at just after 3:50 p.m. on Thursday. The pilot, who had taken off from Bunting Field in Berlin, Maryland, around 3:00 p.m., survived the crash, reportedly without serious injuries. The plane went down after flying along the beach for almost an hour.
Emergency crews arrived at the scene and found the plane across a field with the pilot already out of the aircraft. The initial 911 call was made by a local woman who saw the plane go down according to reports from the scene.
Delaware State Police responded to the crash and are assisting federal investigators at the scene.
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In the summer of 1776, Delaware became a separate state by cutting ties with Great Britain and Pennsylvania. This pivotal moment in history marked Delaware’s independence and its identity as one of the original 13 states that signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Established by Congress in 2016, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission is gearing up for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with America250. This initiative aims to engage Americans nationwide. Delaware recently joined the efforts as the 37th state.
“Delaware 250 is the state of Delaware’s official undertaking in commemoration of the United States Semiquincentennial,” said Margaret Hughes, coordinator of Delaware 250.
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“We’ve got Delaware 250 which is working across the state with museums, with historical groups, with heritage societies, with genealogical groups, with communities across the state to think about what this anniversary means.”
For Hughes, the 250th anniversary is a significant milestone, prompting a deep dive into the community’s history.
“When we’re thinking about the moments of the 250th, we’re thinking about how to uplift all of the stories and all of the contributions of Delawareans over its long history,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to reflect on our past, to think about where we are in the present day and to look forward and plan for a future for our state.”
Delaware 250 is offering quarterly grants to various stakeholders, including community groups and organizations, to facilitate exhibits, speaking engagements and other celebratory events for 2026.
“We launched our first round of grant funding this past spring. We funded nine projects across the state in each of the counties,” Hughes shared. “We funded nine projects across the state in each of the counties. One of the recipients included the Delaware Art Museum to work on an exhibit. They’re in the planning phases for an exhibit that will go up in 2026.”
Workers in Delaware experienced the lowest wage growth in the United States over the past year, according to recent data from ADP Pay Insights.
Employees in Delaware who have remained in their positions for at least 12 months saw their wages increase by 4.1%, bringing the median annual salary to $60,000. This figure places Delaware at the bottom of the rankings for wage growth across all states.
On average, other states saw a wage growth rate of 4.9% for job-stayers. In stark contrast, the top-performing states for wage growth in June showed significantly higher increases. Montana led with a 7.3% rise, followed by Idaho at 6.5%. Alaska, North Dakota, and Oregon each reported a 6% increase.
ADP’s Pay Insights report provides a unique view of salary trends by analyzing the same cohort of nearly 10 million employees over a 12-month period.
